Wednesday, April 29, 2015

I've got a million and one foam roller set ideas, and this is the first I did on freshly washed hair...and I won't do it again, lol. It just takes my natural hair forever to dry on wash day (sometimes, it's not even dry with curlformers).

This was pretty simple in terms of steps; I washed and conditioned my hair like normal, applied Giovanni direct leave-in, sealed with my oil mix, applied Jane Carter Wrap and Roll, and finished with some aloe vera gel. Then I put a roller on that section of hair. I used a total of 50 rollers. They were pretty easy to sleep in. On the second morning, I took them out and applied some olive oil to my hands and removed each roller, and separated the curls. It last for 2 days, and on the third day I put it in a bun.

Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Salad in a Jar

This is why I stay on Pinterest. I've never thought of this, but it would be perfect when I want to cut down on space in my bag and take my salad to work. Everything is in a nice, little jar to be shaken up and eaten later.

Cooking Eggs in a Muffin Pan

I love eggs for breakfast, but let's be honest, making them every day is very tedious. Cooking your eggs in a pan not only allows for you to make a bunch at once, but they can be customized by adding ham, spinach, kale, bacon, or really anything else your heart desires. (I would recommend using cupcake papers for easier clean up.)

One Pan Meal

Of course there are one pot meals, but there are also one pan meals. Season some meat and veggies, throw it in the oven, and you've got a week's worth of dinner already prepared.

Freeze Smoothie Ingredients

Another reason why I stay on Pinterest, I, for some odd reason, never thought about cutting all of my fruits and veggies and putting them in the freezer. It would cut down on all the time it takes to cut them every morning.

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Guess what? You can lighten hair without any chemicals. I know, I know, it sounds too good to be true...and actually, it is. While you can in fact lighten hair with chemicals, it is not consistent among individuals (meaning it could work for someone else, but not you), you aren't guaranteed the color you want, and it could take awhile to see the desired results. But, it's a great alternative if you're not expecting much. I've lightened my hair with both honey and maple syrup (neither intentional).

Honey

The most common natural method to lighten hair is with honey. I lightened my hair this way because honey was used in my leave-in, and I didn't realize it could lighten hair so drastically. Honey left my hair this odd, amber brown color. As you can see in the picture, it even looks like a dark blonde (if that makes sense). I stopped using honey because I wasn't so thrilled with the color, and I felt like it washed me out. There are a few ways to lighten hair using honey including with baking soda, lemon, and peroxide. The only thing you really need is water because water activates the peroxide in honey; for me, it was activated by adding the honey to my conditioner. I used it daily because it was my leave-in, but you should see results using it weekly as well (it could just take longer to see results).

Maple Syrup

I lightened my hair with maple syrup when I was washing with baking soda. I used maple syrup because I didn't want my hair to lighten like I did with honey. Welp, it did, but on the positive side, I actually like the color that maple syrup leaves behind. It's a maple brown (reminds me of the color of maple syrup), and it doesn't actually color all of my hair, but leaves highlights mostly visible in the front. To lighten hair with maple syrup, mix it in water or your conditioner similar to honey, and use, at least, weekly.

Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Whenever I recommend healthy eating tips to people, I always hear the same song, "but I like my food with flavor," or "baked chicken doesn't taste good." Honestly, these are cop out excuses because eating healthy can be quite delicious. Marinades and sauces are great for adding flavor to healthy food with only a few calories (just make sure you don't overdo it on the sauces). Depending on the marinade or sauce, you can add it to beef, pork, chicken, lamb, seafood, and even vegetables and grains.

Chimichurri Sauce: If you've never had Chimichurri sauce I recommend you do; it's a very refreshing and zesty sauce that's light in calories but rich in flavor. It works best on steak and chicken.

Homemade BBQ Sauce: Everyone should know how to make homemade BBQ sauce. It's actually very easy, and you can put it on red meat, chicken, and even use it as dressing for a salad.

Honey Garlic Sauce: Honey an garlic is a great combination and imparts a lot of flavor. This sauce works best on fish, scrimp, and chicken.

Homemade Sriracha: For all my spice lovers, Sriracha is a Thai sauce that uses chili peppers, vinegar, garlic, sugar, and salt. You can add it wherever you like heat (meat, eggs, and even vegetables).

Homemade Teriyaki Sauce Recipe - This is another sauce you should learn how to make. Hailing from Japan, Teriyaki sauce works well with many different meats, seafood, vegetables, and even grains like rice.

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

The Extra Long and Extra Wide Styling Kit

I bought my first set of curlformers in 2011, the long barrel curl set to be exact. My first attempt at using them was horrible. I didn't really understand that my hair couldn't be soaking wet with product, so they didn't dry by the time I woke up in the morning. I tried using them again a year later (yup, it took me that long to revisit them, lol), and that experience was a lot better.

Curlformers stretch natural hair removing the kinks and curls with no heat (so long as you air dry). The first and second try will be a bit frustrating, but you will get the hang of it, which makes the install faster and easier. And, I will be honest, they aren't that easy to sleep in, but I've found that sleeping on an airplane pillow makes it a lot easier. It still isn't the best night sleep, but it's more tolerable.

I don't use curlformers as a style as much as I do to prep for a style. They're also great at stretching the roots. At night, I will do my wash routine, detangle each section, and install the curlformers. In the morning, I take the curlformers out, and two strand twist my hair. Two strand twisting has multiple purposes. First, if my hair is damp, two strand twisting will prevent my hair from reverting. Second, it helps to stretch my hair just a little bit more, and lastly, it removes the curl from my hair (remember, I use them to prep for a style, not as a style).

The before and after of my curlformer install. Notice how stretched my hair is on the right side. You can see the perm rods in the left picture, I will be getting another curlformer kit soon, lol.

Whenever I am ready, I remove the two strand twists (sometimes I wear them the entire week as a protective style), and I style my hair as I see fit. My hairstyles are always great when I stretch first with curlformers.

I love Memorial Day weekend! It is the unofficial start of summer, and the short-shorts and bikinis are out in full force. I'm always super gung ho to get really fit during the last month before Memorial Day weekend, and this year is no different. Since I know that I'm not the only one, I am sharing my tips and tricks for getting bikini ready for Memorial Day weekend!

Combine Cardio with Weights: This is one of the fastest ways to lose fat and increase muscle (and no weights won't make you bulky). Each day, devote 20 minutes to cardio and 10 minutes to lifting, and you will start seeing results in only a few short days.

Track what you eat: Last week, I posted about the app My FitnessPal. Not only does it track your calories, but will also calculate your calories based on how much weight you want to lose (or gain). If you don't want to get the app, write down everything you eat in a journal. Tracking what you eat will keep you more accountable.

Workout for at least 30 minutes: I am learning a lot studying for my personal trainer certification, and one thing that has stuck with me is that it takes, at least, 20 minutes for the body to start burning fat. Adding in the extra 10 minutes will help you burn more fat each day.

Eat carbs: Another thing I learned studying for my personal trainer certification is that you need carbs. Like really, don't remove carbs from your diet. They provide energy, and they are necessary for the body to function. Your body will even break down muscle into carbs (in a process called gluconeogenesis), which isn't good. Now, I'm not saying eat potato chips, but some complex carbs will go a long way (like brown rice or sweet potatoes).

Stretch: People forget about stretching, but it's necessary to prevent injury. You don't want a setback this month, so make sure you stretch after each workout.

Make your workouts fun: Burn out happens to even the most elite athletes, so add a fun element to your workout, twice a week. A dance class or a hike is perfect. You want to get a workout in, but you don't want it to feel like a workout.

Have a cheat Meal: Generally people have a cheat day, which can actually derail your progress if you go all out. Instead, allow yourself 3 cheat meals a week. Use it for a happy hour with coworkers, brunch with friends, or a date. You won't feel as guilty, and it's easier to get back on track.

Set Goals: The overall goal is to look bikini ready for Memorial Day weekend, but it's important to set smaller goals during this time as well. Try to do 100 push-ups one day. Or spend a week getting your mile run under 10 minutes. The smaller goals will keep you motivated.

Reward yourself: Rewarding yourself will also keep you motivated. You don't want your rewards to be food related, but try something like purchasing that new pair of shoes you've been eying. Or going on a mini-vacation.

Keep Going: After Memorial Day is done and you've had your fun in the sun, keep going. Continue to workout and eat healthy. This way you'll look good regardless of the day, time, or season!

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

A braid out, I used the my easy DIY hair refresher with Giovanni Direct Leave-In and aloe vera juice

There are a lot of hair refreshers on the market, and honestly, I think they aren't really needed because it's so easy to make your own. Just take your favorite moisturizer and put some in a spray bottle. Add water or aloe vera juice, shake, and voila! An easy DIY hair refresher.

I love using Giovanni Direct Leave-In or Kinky Curly Knot Today. You can use any leave-in and even conditioner. You can customize your hair refresher by adding essential oils, and if your hair is super dry, add some honey or maple syrup (it really works, trust me, it may lighten hair though).

Monday, April 13, 2015

I've been obsessed with tulle skirts for the last couple of months, prompting me to purchase one from Boohoo. They're so feminine and look perfect for a date. I've been going in overload pinning them on Pinterest, and I am getting a ton of outfit ideas.

This tulle skirt is similar to the one I purchased on Boohoo, except mine is black. This is a cute, casual way to wear one.

Full and fabulous. I love this skirt. Looks like a modern day princess.

I have only been able to find tulle skirts in neutral colors, but I would love one in a royal purple like this one.

Dainty and sweet. I would definitely wear this outfit on a date!

This outfit is perfect! A crop top and a tulle skirt! And it shows the perfect amount of skin. Classy, feminine, and sexy all in one.

Saturday, April 11, 2015

I have a pretty extensive exercise list, and it helps in creating interesting, variety workouts that keep me from plateauing. I think it's a list worth sharing. The list includes exercises from calisthenics, plyometrics, body-weight, dumbbells, and dance.

Love this list? Check out my Exercise List page, it includes the exercises here, and will be continually updated with new exercises!

Cardio

Full-Body

Jump Rope

Running

Skating

Jumping Jacks

High Knees

Burpees

Heismans

Arms

Clap push ups

Jump side-to-side push ups

Jump in and out push ups

Punches

Arm circles

Legs and Butt

Squats

Squat with leg raise

Wide leg squats

Sumo squats

Lunge

Walking lunges

Diagonal Lunge

Side-to-side squats

Uneven squats

Plie squats

Closed leg squats

One-legged squat

Squat jumps

Plie squat jumps

Side-to-side squat jumps

In-out squat jumps

180 squat jumps

360 squat jumps

Wide leg squat jumps

Sumo squat jumps

Lunge jump

Box jumps

Long jumps

Skaters

Front kick

Side kick

Round kick

Back kick

Side-to-side hops

One-legged hops

Abs

Standing Ab twists

Ab twist hops

Mountain Climbers

Tricep kick ups

In and out plank jumps

Side-to-side plank hops

Plank jacks

Strength

Shoulders

Shoulder press

Front shoulder press

Arnold press

Side lateral raise

Front raise

Bent over lateral raise

Behind the neck press

Punches with dumbbell

Pull apart

Internal rotation

External rotation

Biceps

Bicep curl

Reverse curl

Concentrated curl

Hammer curl

Wide grip curl

Close grip curl

Overhead curl

Triceps

Tricep kickbacks

Tricep dips

Tricep push ups

Overhead tricep extension

Lying down tricep extension

Chest

Bench press

Push ups

Side-to-side push ups

Walking push-ups

Uneven push-ups

Wide hand push-ups

Close hand push-ups

Renegade row

Y Raise

Dumbbell fly

Arm pull over

Legs and Butt

Squats

Squat with leg raise

Wide leg squats

Sumo squats

Lunge

Walking lunges

Diagonal Lunge

Side-to-side squats

Uneven squats

Closed leg squats

One-legged squat

Plie squats

Plie squats on tip toes

Plie with closed legs

Plie with closed legs on tip topes

Lunge on tip toes

Deadlift

Standing kickbacks

Standing diagonal kickback

Donkey kicks

Glute kickbacks

Diagonal glute kickbacks

Fire hydrants

Abs

Crunches

Double crunches

Side crunches

Bicycle crunches

Plank

Side plank

One-legged plank

One-arm plank

Star plank

Supermans

Swimmers

V-ups

Wiggles

Russian twists

Standing twists

Shimmy twists

Hip bumps

Hip lifts

Hip drops

Hip circles

Rib slides

Rib circles

Back

Back flys

Bent over row

Bent over lateral row

Upright row

Lateral pulldown

Seated row

*There are tons of variations and many of the exercises target other muscles.

Wednesday, April 8, 2015

From then to now. I've learned how to care for my hair.

In only a few short months, I will have been natural for 6 years. The experience has been wonderful to say the least, but I remember when I cut off my hair. With a fresh fade, I was thrust into the natural hair world forced to navigate all of the regimens, DIY products and curl puddings. It was overwhelming, to say the least.

I remember when I began research on going natural. I thought I was doing a lot of extensive research, but really I was only scratching the surface. I perused some pictures, looked at basic regimens, and learned about a few different product lines. When I cut my hair off a couple weeks later, I realized that the research I did wasn't even basic. Of course I have to clean my hair. Of course I have to style my hair. These were necessities. I didn't know about protective styles or anything beyond a braid out. So once all of my relaxed hair fell to the ground, I was in for a real wake-up call.

The first few months were easy...although, it was stinky. I made my own shampoo from a mix of castile soap, olive oil, and neem oil. And if you know anything about neem oil, it stinks a lot. But I put up with it because it has a lot of great qualities for the hair and scalp, including healing eczema and softening hair. I only used shea butter as a leave-in, and it worked well. And styling was a breeze.

During this time, since I didn't have that much hair, I did a lot of research on natural hair. I would peruse sites like Black Girl Long Hair, Curly Nikki, and Naturally Curly. I began to make a list of anything that was worth writing down for when my hair was longer; I wanted to be prepared.

You can see the product in my hair. As you can see, I threw out the notion that less is more.

During my second year natural, I finally had enough hair to begin to style and test products, but at the time, I didn't know that I was subjected to information overload. I remember I spent an entire Saturday looking at DIY leave-in videos on YouTube. By the time I shut down my laptop, I didn't know what to do. Which oil was better? Olive oil, coconut oil, sweet almond oil, castor oil? Was glycerin good to use in the winter? And should I use products with silicones? I tried everything...all at once, which in hindsight wasn't the best idea. I mixed together olive oil, coconut oil, castor oil, shea butter, glycerin, and some conditioner and used it to moisturize my hair. And I used a lot. After all, these vloggers and bloggers told me that natural hair was dry and to use a lot of product.

The fluffy fro. I didn't know what other hairstyles worked for me.

I also was learning how to style my hair. At the time, I was only wearing my hair in a fluffy fro. I would watch braid out and twist out videos every night, following the directions to a tee. I went to bed hoping my hair would look perfect, but when I undid my twists in the morning, I was disappointed. It looked nothing like the style I saw the night before. I hadn't learned that my hair was an individual, and the same techniques that work for one person, wouldn't work on me. So eventually, I believed that my current style was the only style that I could have. The fluffy fro would be the style that defined me.

There were moments when I was almost sure I could never be the natural with a blog. Nothing worked for me, and my hair was, well, boring. Regardless of what I tried, my hair just wouldn't morph into that gorgeous style that I drooled over in the pictures or in the video. I was the fluffy fro girl.

I started to get. This was a twist out that actually made me happy.

By the time the summer rolled around, I had a few weddings to go to, and I wanted my hair to look great. I didn't want the fluffy fro. I began to try something different. Taking what I learned from all the videos, I began to tailor each of the steps to work for me...and what do you know, it worked. Twist outs, braid outs, and bantu knot outs were being recreated just for me. I also began to streamline my products. I was realizing that I didn't need a cornucopia of oils and products just to moisturize my hair, and I surely didn't need globular amounts of product for a small section of hair. And most importantly, I didn't need the smell of neem oil to waft around me.

At a wedding, this twist out was a success (though the humidity deflated it a bit)

As I entered my third year natural, my regimen began to drastically evolve. I began to understand my hair as an individual, not a recreation of my favorite YouTuber or blogger. I began watching videos and reading blog posts differently. The information I was receiving were like puzzle pieces; I had to pick through all of the advice, information, tutorials, and videos and find what worked for me and put it together. Slowly, I began to really learn about my hair. Before, I was trying to fit my hair into my perceived box of natural, when instead, my products and techniques should fit my hair, not the other way around. And I was natural regardless of my regimen, not because of it.

I look back on those years bittersweetly. It's an experience that changed my life. There was so much to learn and look forward to. But I don't miss the frustration and confusion. And I surely don't miss the anxiety of what my hair could be, I now know. And, I did become that girl with the blog.

As the saying goes, a short workout is better than no workout. I've been there; either I woke up really late or have a lot of errands to run, but I still don't want to miss my workout. When this happens, I just get a quick workout in, no more than 5 minutes. It can be anything - cardio, yoga, weights - but as long as I get it in, I know that I made every attempt to workout for the day.

Find yourself strapped for time? Try these workouts below. And when you actually have time to get a full workout in, they can be combined for a great, full-body 20 minute workout.

Tuesday, April 7, 2015

I've only and this app for a few days, but I love it! A meditation app, it focuses on different themes to meditate on like "Mindful Breathing," "Gratitude," and "Kindness." All of the mediations are under 10 minutes, and there is also a self-medication mode. The app is free and includes in-app purchases.

My obsession with Pinterest should be apparent by now, but because I have this app, I have gotten rid of a lot of my recipe and workout apps. Almost anything I wan tot be inspired by is at my fingertips, from workouts, to home decor, to cityscapes, to even resume tips. The app is free.

I go off and on for using MyFitness Pal, but it really is great for tracking what you're eating and how much exercise you're getting. I use when I want to be really strict with my diet and stay within my caloric limit. The app is free.

Offering soothing sounds like the crackle of a fireplace or the splashing of a creek, it helps me fall asleep quickly. And with over 50 different sounds, there's a sound for whatever mood I am in. The app is free, but offers an upgrade for a fee.

As you know HIIT and Tabata workouts are my butter and bread when it comes to fitness, so an interval timer is necessary. This app allows me to create and save my intervals for workouts, and even better, their recent upgrade allows for complex intervals. The app is free, but offers an upgrade for a fee.

I don't eat carbs for dinner. I could give some fancy, fitness-y answer, but really it's because carbs make me sluggish if I'm not really doing anything. So I usually eat something like chicken and broccoli or a salad(cliche, I know). But recently (courtesy of my healthy snacks post), I discovered that meat and fruit pair so well together. I've been looking for a few recipes to try and came across these. They look so good and are perfect for trying something new for dinner.

Short on time, but want a yoga routine and cardio workout? Try this great HIIT Yoga workout! I did it twice last week, and not only does it leave me sweaty and breathless, I still get some great yoga poses in. Try it this week!

Take two for getting the perfect manicure. After my post last week, I washed the dishes and ended up smudging my manicure (-_-). Despite waiting 20 minutes, by the time I started washing dishes, they still weren't dry enough to withstand any level of abuse. I knew I needed a quick drying top coat so that I wouldn't have to wait the entire day for my manicure to dry. So on Friday, I headed to Ulta to see what I could find.

When I got to Sally's I went to the makeup aisle and finally got some NYX Simply Vamp Lip Cream in She Devil and Bewitching, but that's a post for another day, lol (but get ready for my first lipstick swatch post). After that, I walked over to the nail aisle and looked around for some quick-dry top coat. Since I've used Sally Hansen products before, specifically the hair removal products and the Miracle Gel Top Coat with great results, I decided to go with their Dries Instantly 30 Second Top Coat.

Later on in the day, I decided to make another attempt at a manicure. I am noticing that I am getting better at painting my nails, especially the right side (thus proving that practice makes perfect). I used the Dries Instantly 30 Second Top Coat as a bottom coat, applied the nail polish, then the Miracle Gel Top Coat, and finished with the Dries Instantly 30 Second Top Coat. I sat still for about 10 minutes to let my nails dry. While I didn't wash any dishes, I did fiddle with the clasp on my shoes and to my surprise, my manicure was still intact. Then I washed my face, and my manicure was still good. It's been over 24 hours now, and my manicure still looks like it was done 5 minutes ago. I am very happy with this quick-dry top coat, and soon my manicures will look like a professional did it. Hooray!

Disclaimer

Everyone, especially pregnant women, should consult a physician before beginning any fitness activity. Not all exercise plans are suitable for everyone. Please discontinue any exercise that causes you pain or severe discomfort and consult a medical expert. Any liability and/or damage in connection with the use of this workout, including but not limited to any liability loss or damage resulting in the performance of the exercise demonstrated or the advice and information given within this blog is expressly disclaimed.

See a picture that's yours? Just send me an email and I can take it down, no questions asked.